Boat Flips and Passenger Dies

By JOHN T. McQUISTON

Published: May 31, 1988

A 36-year-old man was killed yesterday when a boat he was thinking of buying hit a wave and flipped over, hurling him into the water near Freeport, L.I., the police said.

It was the first boating fatality of the season on Long Island, where Memorial Day is traditionally the busiest boating day of the year.

The accident occurred at 9:04 A.M. in Swift Creek, 400 feet south of the Meadowbrook Parkway Loop Bridge near Jones Beach, according to Officer Peter Franzone, a spokeman for the Nassau County Police Department.

The operator of the boat, Anthony Caligure, 28, of Lynbrook, L.I., was taking the prospective buyer, Russell Notti, of Amity Harbor, L.I., for a demonstration ride in the 24-foot catamaran, which was powered by two 240-horsepower engines.

Witnesses told the police the boat was traveling in excess of 70 miles per hour when it hit a wake from another boat and flipped over, hurling Mr. Caligure and Mr. Notti into the water.

Both men were pulled from the water by Richard Buglione, 30, of Plainview, L.I., who was fishing from his own boat and saw the accident.

Mr. Notti was taken by police helicopter to the Nassau County Medical Center in East Meadow where he died at 10:02 P.M. from head and chest injuries.

Mr. Caligure was taken to the same hospital, suffering from bruises of the chest and face. Edward Smith, a spokesman for the medical center, said last night that Mr. Caligure was in satisfactory condition.

No one was charged in the accident, according to Officer Allan Wicklund of the Nassau County Police Marine Bureau. He said there was no speed limits on boats where the accident occurred.